Mailing folder



Patented Apr. 15, 1941 MAILING FOLDER Harold J. Hayden, St. Albans, N. Y., assignor to Empire Corrugated Container Corp., Brooklyn,

Application This invention relates to improvements in mailing folders of the envelope type and more particularly to a mailing folder constructed f corrugated sheet material.

One of the important features o-f the invention v resides in a mailing carton or folder for relatively heavy magazines, books, or like fiat articles, into which such articles are adapted to be packaged for shipment through the mail or other carrier, without fear of mutilation of the folderl contents during handling and shipment.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a mailing folder which is formed of a single blank of stiff corrugated paper stock which is cut, scored, folded, and sealed in a novel manner to provide a strong, rigid, and inexpensive container for the safe shipment of flat articles.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a mailing envelope folder constructed of relatively heavy stock material such as corrugated paper board in which certain opposed infolded flaps interlock and are disposed on the same plane to serve the two fold purpose oi' bracing the folder against lateral strains, and for reducing the thickness of the infolded flaps to a. minimum.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of a mailing envelope folder in which the infolded overlapping closure flaps are securely held together by metal stitching in a novel manner not to penetrate to the inside of the folder which might cause injury to the contents of the folder, nor which is likely to cause injury to the hand. during handling of the folder in shipment.

Other important features of the invention will be apparent as the specification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank from which the mailing folder is constructed.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the folder in partially folded position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the folder in complete folded and sealed condition.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, theletter A designates' the flat blank of stiff foldable material which is cut, scored, and folded to producemy improved mailing folder. The blank A is cut from a substantially rectangular shaped piece of stock material shown in dot and dash lines and designated B. The stock material B is preferably corrugated paper sheet material and the corrugations of the sheet material are disposed parallel to two of the opposite sides of the sheet B so that when the blank A is folded December 16, 1938, Serial No. 246,087

6 Claims. (Cl. 229-30) into envelope position, the corrugations run oblique tothe several walls and flaps which make up the folder. By cutting the blank A from a piece of corrugated stock material B in the mannerabove mentioned, Iam able to increase the strength of the walls of the folder and reduce the waste of stock material to a minimum.

The blank A includes a front wall I0 of rectangular configuration in plan and formed integral with the ends of the front wall I0, are relatively narrow end walls II and I2 which are foldable to a position at right angle to the front Wall I0 on the transverse score lines I3 and I4 respectively. Formed integral with the end walls II and I2 are inner rear wall naps I5 and I6, the same being foldable inwardly at right angle to thevrespective end walls II and I2 on the transverse sco-re lines I1 and I8 respectively. The inner rear wall flaps I5 and I6 are substantially triangular shaped and the apex portion of the flap I6 is provided with a V-shaped notch I9 to re'- ceive the apex portion 2l of the flap I5 when the flaps I5 and I6 are folded inwardly over the front wall I0 as best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing, Formed integral with opposite sides of the flaps I5 and I6 and terminating in alinement with the score lines I1 and I8, are corner flaps 20 which are foldable inwardly on the score lines 2 I, which score lines are in alinement with the free ends of the end walls II and I2. 'I'he corner naps 20 are of a width approximating the height of the end walls Il and I2.

Formed integral with opposite sides of the front wall- I0 along the score lines 22-22, are opposite side walls 23-23 and formed integral with the side walls 23-23 are outer rear wall naps 24-24 foldable inwardly at right angle to the side walls 23-23 on the longitudinal score lines 25-25. The outer rear flaps 24--24 are substantially triangular shaped and have their apex portions rounded as at 26. The outer naps 24--24 are of a width to enable the apex portions thereof to overlap each other and to` overlap the meeting edges of the inner rear aps I5 and I6.

Assume that it is desired to package a relatively thick and heavy magazine as shown in dotted lines at M in Figure 2, and that the inner side of the blank A is face up in Figure 1. The operator places the magazine M against the inner side of the front wall I0 and folds the end walls II and I2 upwardly against opposite ends of the magazine on the fold lines I3 and I4, after which the inner rear flaps I5 and I6 -are folded in- Wardly 40n the lines I1 and I8 respectively so as to lie flat against the upwardly facing side of the magazine M. When the flaps I5 and I6 are folded inwardly, the apex portion 2l of the flap I5 interfits into the V-shaped notch I9 of the flap I6 as best illustrated in Figure 2. The corner flaps 20 are next folded inwardly so as to reinforce the corners of the folder and protect the corner edges of the magazine from becoming exposed. The operator next folds the side walls 23-23 on the score lines 22-22 and then proceeds to fold the outer rear iiaps 24-24 inwardly on the score lines 2.5-25 so that the apex portion of one of the outer rear flaps 24 overlaps the apex portion of the other flap 24. In addition to overlapping each other, the apex portions of the flaps 2li- 2d overlie and conceal the intertting apex portions of the inner rear flaps I and I6. The blank is now completely folded and is ready for sealing, and whereas various types of sealing means may be resorted to, I have illustrated a substantially U-shaped metal staple 28 which has its leg portions passing through the overlapping flaps 2li-24 and with the terminal ends of the leg portions of the staple bent inwardly and embedded in the thickness of the apex portion of the inner rear wall fiaps I5. It is possible to use such type of fastening in relatively thick corrugated material and there are stapling machines now available for applying fasteningr staples in the manner above set forth.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a relatively simple and inexpensive mailing folder which is strong and rigid to protect the contents of the folder from injury during the rough handling to which mailing folders are subjected in transit through the mails. Y

While I have shown and described what I consider to be the most practical embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that certain changes and alterations as come within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A mailing folder comprising an envelope body having a front wall, and inner and outer pairs of opposed inwardly foldable flaps constituting a rear wall, interfltting means between the inner pair of flaps to brace the same against lateral strain and to enable said inner fiaps to assume a common plane throughout their entire area, the outer flaps overlapping each other and said inner flaps, and means securing said outer aps in lapped relation to one of the pair of inner flaps.

2. A mailing folder comp-rising an envelope body having a front wall, and inner and outer pairs of opposed inwardly foldable flaps coacting to provide a rear wall, one of the flaps of the inner pair having a notch provided in a free edge thereof, a complementary intertting element provided on the free edge of the other inner iiap and snugly intertting into said notch whereby said inner flaps are disposed on the same plane throughout their entire area and braced against lateral strain, the outer pair of flaps overlapping each other and said inner flaps, and securing means for fastening said outer flaps in overlapped relation to one of the pair of inner flaps. f

3. A mailing folder comprising an envelope body constructed of a single blank of relatively stiff thick paper material which is cut, scored, and folded to provide a rectangular shaped front wall, side walls, inner and outer pairs of flaps folded inwardly from said side walls and coacting to provide a rear Wall, said innerfolded aps terminating in edge to edge relation to lie in the same plane, intertting means between the adjacent edges of said inner flaps to brace said inner iiaps against lateral strain, said outer pair of flaps .having portions overlapping each other and said inner flaps, a metal staple passing through said overlapping outer flaps and embedded in the thickness of one of said inner aps to secure said outer aps to one of the inner flaps in overlapped relation. v

4. A mailing folder comprising an envelope body constructed of a single blank of relatively stiff paper material, cut, scored, and folded to provide a rectangular shaped front wall, side walls, inner and outer pairs of opposed flaps folded inwardly from said side walls and being substantially parallel to said front wall, said inner Walls lying in the same plane, corner flaps integral with the opposed sides of said inner flaps and being folded inwardly at right angle to said inner flaps and fitting against adjacent side walls to enclose the corners of said envelope body, said outer flaps being disposed in lapped relation with each other and with respect to said inner flaps, and fastening means for securing the outer flaps to one of the inner ap's in overlapping relation.

5. A mailing container for magazines or other like flat articles comprising a single blank of corrugated paper board which is cut, scored, and folded to provide a rectangular shaped front wall, opposed end Walls, opposed side walls, substantially triangular shaped inner rear wall flaps integral with 'said end walls, the apex portion of one of said rear Wall flaps having a V-shaped notch therein, said rear wall flaps being folded inwardly with the V-shaped notch of thev one rear wall flap snugly receiving the apex portion of the other rear Wall flap whereby said rear Wall iaps are interlocked to resist lateral strain and disposed in the same plane throughout their entire areas, and a pair of outer rear wall flaps integral with the side walls and folded inwardly over the inner rear Wall naps and cooperating therewith to entirely close the rear of the container.

6. A mailing container for magazines or other like flat articles comprising a single blank `of corrugated paper boa-rd which is cut, scored, and folded to provide a rectangular shaped front Wall, opposed end walls, opposed side Walls, substantially triangular shaped inner rear wall flaps integral with said end walls, the apex portion of one of' said rear wall flaps having a V-shaped notch therein, said rear wall flaps being folded inwardly with the V-shaped notch of the one rear wall flap snugly receiving the apex portion of the other rear Wall flap whereby said rear wall aps are interlocked to resist lateral strain and disposed in the same plane throughout their entire areas, a pair of substantially triangular shaped outer rear wall flaps integral with the respective side walls and folded inwardly with their apex portions overlapping each other and portions thereof overlapping the inner rear wall flaps and cooperating therewith to .entirely close the rear of the container, and a metal staple fastener passing tlough the lapping portions of said outer rear wall flaps and into the un-notched inner rear wall nap to secure the same ln closed position.

HAROLD J. HAYDEN. 

